Parking Permits

Parking Information:

The City of Lake Forest requires payment of a $3.00 daily fee or display of a parking permit hang tag to park in one of the Central Business District (CBD) city owned lots or Metra train station parking lots. Please refer to the CBD Parking Map or the Telegraph Road Parking Map to view the various parking lots. See further information about daily fee and permit parking below. A parking permit does not include the Forest Park Beach parking lots. Parking permits may be purchased at the Municipal Services Building, 800 N. Field Drive, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Parking permits may also be purchased online (www.aptvsa.com/lakeforest/commuter). Questions regarding parking permits can be directed to the finance department 847.810.3622.

Daily Fee Parking in the Central Business District

Daily parking is available in the numbered parking spaces located at Westminster, McKinley, and Oakwood* parking lots in the central business district near the Lake Forest Metra train station (Union Pacific/North Line - Ogilvie Transportation Center to Kenosha). Please see the "Daily Fee" areas on the CBD Parking Map. After parking in either the Westminster or McKinley lots, note your space number and locate the pay station for that lot. To pay for parking, enter your space number and insert your payment ($3.00 cash, or $3.25 with credit or debit card). Please take your receipt and retain for your records. No change or refunds will be given. Daily fee parking can also be paid by phone at 877.727.5004, or by the ParkMobile Phone Application (click here for a detailed brochure). The ParkMobile App requires a one-time entry of credit card information. After registering a credit card, payment is made by simply entering your space number and the Zone number "852". The fee that will be charged when paying by phone or using the App will be $3.62. The App allows users to avoid having to physically make payment at the pay station. Parking lot patrol will verify there is a fee paid for the occupied spaces by using a program that is connected with the pay station, so be sure to enter the correct space number. If you experience a problem when making payment at the pay station, please contact the Lake Forest Non-Emergency police at 847.234.2601.

Overnight Parking in the Central Business District

Overnight parking is allowed only in designated areas and requires payment of a daily fee or a CBD Parking Permit. Please note, when parking overnight or long-term and paying a daily fee, you must pay for parking by phone or online. When paying at the pay station, your daily fee is paid only until midnight. When paid by phone or online, the parking fee is paid for 24 hours and you may pre-pay up to seven days. See designated overnight areas on the CBD Parking Map. Parking is not allowed from 3:00am - 5:00am anywhere other than designated overnight areas, unless permission is obtained from the police (Non-Emergency 847.234.2601).

*The Oakwood parking lot will not have an electronic pay station in place, so payment of parking must be made by placing $3 in bills or coins into the pay slot that corresponds with the space number. Please note: daily parking tokens are no longer accepted as payment for daily fee parking. Unused tokens can be returned to the Finance Department at the Municipal Services Building for refund (800 N Field Dr, 8:00am - 4:30pm, Mon-Fri).

Central Business District "CBD" Annual Parking Permits

Annual CBD parking permit hang tags are valid from May 1 through April 30. The yearly fee for a resident is $313, non-resident fee is $700, and CBD Employee fee is $180. The CBD parking permit may be used in any "CBD Permit Required" areas indicated in pink, in the "Daily Fee/Permit" areas in orange/black, in the "Daily/Overnight with CBD Permit" areas in yellow/black, and in "Daily Fee/Permit/Overnight" areas in yellow on the CBD Parking Map. The CBD annual parking permit can also be used to park at the Telegraph Road Metra Station and at Fort Sheridan lot north of Old Elm Road. The CBD annual parking permit is prorated throughout the year (see schedule below). If permit is lost/stolen, the current price for the permit will apply. Please note the following important information about the CBD annual parking permit:

EXPIRES APRIL 30, 2020

Hang on rear view mirror with the other side facing the windshield.

There is no replacement fee for the hang tag. If this tag is lost or stolen, you will have to pay the current price for a replacement.

The tag is only valid for the time period on the tag. There is no grace period.

Purchase of this hang tag does not guarantee you a parking space. The parking lot spaces will be filled on a first come basis.

The hang tag is valid in the City-owned permit required lots in the CBD, Telegraph Road, and Ft. Sheridan north of Old Elm Rd.

Central Business District "CBD" Monthly Parking Permits

CBD parking permits are also available on a monthly basis. The monthly resident fee is $30, non-resident fee is $60, and CBD Employee fee is $20. A CBD monthly permit is valid for the calendar month specified on the permit. The CBD parking permit may be used in any "CBD Permit Required" areas indicated in pink, in the "Daily Fee/Permit" areas in orange/black, in the "Daily/Overnight with CBD Permit" areas in yellow/black, and in "Daily Fee/Permit/Overnight" areas in yellow on the CBD Parking Map. A CBD monthly parking permit can also be used to park the Telegraph Road Metra Station and at the Fort Sheridan lot north of Old Elm Road. If a permit is lost or stolen, the current price for the permit will apply.

Central Business District "CBD" Employee Parking Permits

A reduced rate for annual or monthly CBD parking permits is available to employees in the Central Business District. To obtain the reduced rate, the business must first be registered with the Finance Department, and the parking permit(s) must be ordered online with the PIN provided by the Finance Department, or paid for with a company or business check from the CBD business when purchased at Municipal Services. The fee is $20 per calendar month or $180 per year. The price for the annual permit is prorated throughout the year (see schedule "EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT PRICE" above). If permit is lost/stolen, the current price for the permit will apply. To register your CBD business, or for more information, please call The Finance Department 847.810.3622 or email the finance department.

Telegraph Road Metra Train Station Lot Parking

Daily fee and CBD Annual or monthly permit parking is available at the Telegraph Road Metra train station off Waukegan and Everett (Milwaukee District/North Line - Union Station to Fox Lake). To pay for parking, locate a pay station on the east side of the depot, enter your space number and insert your payment ($3.00 cash, or $3.25 with credit or debit card). Please take your receipt and retain for your records. No change or refunds will be given. Daily fee parking can also be paid by phone at 877.727.5004, or by the ParkMobile Phone Application (click here for a detailed brochure). The ParkMobile App requires a one-time entry of credit card information. After registering a credit card, payment is made by simply entering your space number and the Zone number "851". The fee that will be charged when paying by phone or using the App will be $3.62. The App allows users to avoid having to physically make payment at the pay station. Parking lot patrol will verify there is a fee paid for the occupied spaces by using a program that is connected with the pay station, so be sure to enter the correct space number. If you experience a problem when making payment at the pay station, please contact the Lake Forest Non-Emergency police at 847.234.2601.

Overnight Parking at the Telegraph Road Metra Train Station

Overnight parking is allowed in Lot A only and requires payment of a daily fee or a CBD Parking Permit. Please note, when parking overnight or long-term and paying a daily fee, you must pay for parking by phone or online. When paying at the pay station, your daily fee is paid only until midnight. When paid by phone or online, the parking fee is paid for 24 hours and you may pre-pay up to seven days. Parking is not allowed from 3:00am - 5:00am anywhere other than Lot A, unless permission is obtained from the police (Non-Emergency 847.234.2601).

Annual CBD and monthly CBD parking permits are available for purchase at the Municipal Services Building, 800 N. Field Drive, between the hours of 8:00am to 4:30pm, Monday - Friday. Parking permits may also be purchased online. Parking permits ordered online will be mailed and should arrive in 3-5 business days.

Parking Violations

If you want to dispute a violation you may contact Police Records at 847-810-3845 or appear at the Public Safety Building, 255 W. Deerpath. If the fine remains unpaid, a notice of the assigned hearing date will be sent to the registered owner. The Police Records Department is open Monday-Saturday, 8:00 a.m to 6:00 p.m.; closed on Sunday and City Holidays.